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UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 3, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: Draft statute for Association cuts off legacy of Kosovo’s non-recognition (RFE)
• Gervalla: We expect Serbia to declare itself about Serbia (Deutsche Welle)
• Special Intervention Unit to protest again on November 7 (Kallxo)
• EULEX arrests Kilaj; Kastrati: Special Court should stop persecuting liberators (KSP)
• Attackers of reporters in the north did not face justice (RFE)
• U.S. sanction former procurement director at Ministry of Trade, Nexhat Krasniqi (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• The safety of journalists: Reporting during crisis situations a serious risk (Radio Mitrovica sever, KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, KoSSev)
• Rasic on the strategy for the protection of community interests: A long process, but the most important project (KiM radio)
• UNDP analysis: Basic expenditures in Kosovo have been growing for three years in a row (KoSSev)
• Vucic denies claims he will recognize Kosovo, silent on signing of Ohrid agreement (Beta, N1)
• Trajkovic: Vucic's policy towards Kosovo will be crowned with high betrayal of national interests (KiM radio, Beta, N1, NMagazin)
• Stojanovic and Bisevac gifted Gracanica municipality with “the construction tape for suspension of illegal construction” (KiM radio, Medija Centar Caglavica, KoSSev)
• Abbot Sava with Bakojani on the challenges of the Serbs and the SPC in Kosovo (Kosovo Online)

International:

• 'Let's Just Be Albanians': A New Movement In Kosovo Calls On Muslims To Abandon Islam (RFE)
• Miners at Kosovo’s Trepca Giant End Strike (Balkan Insight)
• Teachers, Parents Must Adapt to Address Peer Violence in Balkans (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 3, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
• Agreement reached, Trepca mineworkers’ strike ends (RTK)
• Osmani: Proposal of draft statute of Association should be reviewed by court (media)
• Kurti to report to Assembly on latest meeting in Brussels and Association draft (media)
• SPO conducts operations in investigation of administration of justice offences (media)
• Kurti: Kosovo’s membership in CoE – a historic process (media)
• Hovenier welcomes minister’s decision to supply hospitals in north (media)
• Rama: Association’s draft statute is an EU draft (media)
• Serbia deletes 3,370 Albanians in Presevo Valley from voter lists (Koha)
Serbian Language Media:
• Dacic: Pristina more likely to open embassy on moon than in Belgrade (Tanjug)
• Bocan-Kharchenko: Vucic is clear - he will not recognize Kosovo (Kosovo Online, Politika, Tanjug)
• Ponos: Vucic and Kurti are the "yin and yang" of the Kosovo disaster (NMagazin, N1, Nova.rs)
• Petkovic: The opposition hopes that they will succeed in deceiving the citizens with falsehoods at the expense of Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• The police in Zubin Potok complete the station, put up a sign and flags (RTS)
• Municipality of Strpce: Concern about firewood is increasing (Kontakt plus radio)
• NJSI protest in front of the government building with opposition support, media reports on success in Banjska, Svecla and Kurti on investments in special forces (KoSSev)
International Media:
• Kosovo Serb Testifies About Son’s Abduction by Guerrillas (Balkan Insight)
• Troubles Underground: Kosovo's Trepca Miners Strike For Better Conditions (RFE)
• High-level conference in Germany: There is consensus on EU enlargement and reform, roadmap needed (EWB)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 2, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti: In order to preserve community, discrimination must be fought (media)
• President Osmani meets Dora Bakojanis (RTK)
• EU: We will soon invite Bislimi and Petkovic to Brussels (Reporteri)
• Kryeziu: Discussions can only continue where they left off on October 26 (RTK)
• Rama announces "supportive visit" to Kosovo after acceptance of EU plan (media)
• Krasniqi: Government MPs with monthly income close to €2000, voted against miners and policemen (media)
• Queue in front of vehicle registration centre in the north of Kosovo (RFE)
• SPO raids house of Isni Kilaj (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic informed Bocan-Kharchenko about the difficult situation in Kosovo (RTS, Tanjug)
• Vucic: I will never sign the independence of Kosovo (Kosovo Online)
• Nova.rs: Kurti accepted the CSM, Vucic agreed to the agreement, asking to sign it after the elections (N1)
• Unclear when the population census will be held in Kosovo (KiM radio, Radio Gorazdevac)
• The house of the Dukic family from Suvi Do near Lipljan robbed (Kosovo Online)

Opinion:

• Hasani: Unveiling the Parallel: Serbia’s Failed Attempt to Imitate Russia’s Strategy with Neighbours (Prishtina Insight)

International:

• Why Ursula von der Leyen needs the Balkans to believe in EU membership (Financial Times)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 2, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
• Kurti: Needs and desires are simpler than solutions (media)
• Svecla: Average monthly income of officers who protested is over €2,000 (media)
• Albanian PM’s proposal for Kosovo-Serbia agreement published (Klan)
• PDK: The Specialist Chambers must stop political persecution (media)
• Rasic: One third of Serbs fled Kosovo because of the Serbian List (media)
• Reuten: The West must draw a line on Serbia (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Bilcik: Enlargement top priority, Von der Leyen clearly said EU wants Serbia (The Guardian, N1, Beta, Tanjug)
• Senator Shaheen: The relationship between Serbia and Kosovo worrying (VoA, KiM radio)
• Bishop Teodosije met with the British ambassadors from Belgrade and Pristina (KoSSev)
• The doctor arrested in April in Jarinje released (KoSSev)
• Those wanted for war crimes in Kosovo released in Montenegro (RFE, KoSSev)
• ANEM: 56 cases of threats, attacks on journalists, N1 and Danas targeted the most (FoNet, N1)
International Media:
• Western countries press for reform ahead of Ukraine decision (Politico)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, November 1, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Government: Published document doesn’t correspond with EU-U.S. proposal (media)
• Kurti: A Republic of all, not only of the majority (Kosovapress)
• Special Intervention Unit protests: Don’t play with our dignity (Koha)
• SPO raids house of former advisor to Thaci (media)
• 63 attacks and threats against reporters and media reported in 10 months (Klan Kosova)
• KPC again sends proposal for Isufaj as state chief prosecutor to Osmani (media)
• Von Cramon: We need democratic Serbia, not further appeasement of Vucic (media)
• Forensic teams, international missions at site of damaging of Orthodox graves (Kallxo)
• Police stops a Serb, find emblems of Serbian army, baseball bat in the car (Klan)

Serbian Language Media:

• President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic announced parliamentary elections on December 17 (media)
• Serbian National Assembly President announced local elections in Serbia on December 17 (media)
• Surlic: European officials use the term "de facto recognition" to please Pristina, constructive ambiguity about the CSM (ZSO) (RTS)
• Pristina forensics opens an investigation at the dug-out cemetery in N. Mitrovica, numerous international organizations also at the scene (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: School in Kamenica stoned (KiM radio)
• Ambassador says US not neutral on Kosovo (N1)
• Research: More than a third of Serbian citizens see the USA as an enemy (N1, FoNet, Beta, NMagazin)
• Neue Zurcher Zeitung: Vucic wants to control public opinion (N1)
• Borrell: Well-managed accession process will also strengthen EU (N1)

International:

• Trepca Miners in Mitrovica Demand Improved Working Conditions (BIRN)
• Serbia Schedules Early Elections for December 17 (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, November 1, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
Von der Leyen in Belgrade demands 'de facto' recognition of Kosovo's independence (RTK)
Hovenier: Agreements are binding even without signatures (media)
AAK calls on government to implement dialogue obligations as soon as possible (Koha)
Paparaci claims to possess draft statute of Association agreed by Kurti (media)
Government approves Draft Law for Budget of 2024 (media)
Court of Appeal confirms Basic Court Decision on three Banjska attackers (media)
Rama surprised by EU's non-reaction to Dodik's statements (Koha)
Artan Behrami's lawyer calls SPO’s orders for raid unconstitutional (media)
Citaku: SPO conducting  "witch hunt" against anyone connected to KLA (media)
Serbian Language Media:
Von der Leyen from Belgrade: De facto recognition means documents, institutions, CSM (N1)
Von der Leyen, Brnabic discuss EU growth plan, reforms (Tanjug)
Search of the "Metal" store in Zvecan, Elshani says not related to Banjska (Radio Mitrovica sever)
The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, the three detained for the Banjska case remain in custody (KiM radio)
Rada Trajkovic: Vucic will first recognize Kosovo documents and passports, and the rest after the election (Beta, Danas)
Petkovic: Rada Trajkovic has neither a moral nor a legitimate right to attack Vucic (Radio Mitrovica sever)
Serbia Names New Ambassadors to Vienna, Sarajevo, Riyadh, and UNESCO (Beta)
Dveri Movement: Statehood and patriotic opposition parties to join forces pre or post-election (Beta, media)
International Media:
EU Chief Demands Kosovo and Serbia Stick to Normalisation Deal (Balkan insight)
The best deal Kosovo and Serbia can get (EUobserver)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 31, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• An Explanatory Note on the Kosovo-Serbia agreement (Albanian Post)
• SPO raids apartment of Thaci’s former advisor, Artan Behrami (Koha)
• Palokaj: No sign that measures against Kosovo will be lifted (KTV)
• Rasic comments on decision for free registration of vehicles into RKS plates (media)
• Haradinaj: NATO membership guarantees more security and peace in the region (media)
• “I will get the Kosovo passport as soon as possible” (RFE)

Serbian Language Media:

• Hill: The proposals "on the table" for some time, Belgrade and Pristina should reach an agreement as soon as possible (Tanjug)
• Clinical Hospital Center Kosovska Mitrovica: The hospital pharmacy almost empty, patients sent to central Serbia (Beta, NMagazin, Politika, N1)
• Issuance of documents overshadowed by high-level politics (KoSSev)
• Brnabic on elections: If we lose, we will be a responsible opposition (N1, Beta)
• International law professor Milanovic: We don't know what exactly it means when they ask for de facto recognition (NMagazin, Beta)
• Momcilo Trajkovic: The Serbian List does not have the support of the people (KIM radio)

Opinion:

• Glenny: Same problems 20 years later (N1)

International:

• Leaked – Serbia signs lithium exploitation agreement with European Commission (balkangreenenergynews.com)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 31, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
• Von der Leyen: Kosovo to accept Association, Serbia de facto recognition (media)
• Osmani: EU should open its doors to Kosovo, lift measures (RTK)
• Kurti pointed out to Von der Leyen the need for extradition of Radoicic to Kosovo (media)
• Haxhiu: Our reform journey in justice will continue (Klan)
• Specialized Chambers confiscate materials from Shala’s and Smakaj’s properties (media)
• CDHRF: Specialized Chambers causing psychological violence (media)
• Deadline for registration of cars with RKS license plates postponed until December 1 (media)
• Indictment for Bislimi, Beqa, Haxhiu and Lushtaku’s fight in the Assembly (media)
Serbian Language Media:
• Serbian gov't proposes dissolution of parliament, calling of elections (Tanjug, media)
• Vucic to receive von der Leyen in Belgrade Tuesday (media)
• Vucic says he will discuss all important issues with von der Leyen (RTS)
• Von der Leyen to Osmani: EU accession only after normalization with Belgrade (N1)
• Lawyer: Detention of Dusan Obrenovic extended for two more months (Kosovo Online, KoSsev, media)
• Montenegrin Minister of Justice refuses to extradite another Serb Pristina accuses of alleged war crimes (Kosovo Online, media)
• “State-building opposition” negotiations fall through (N1, media)
International Media:
• Faced with Growing Discontent, Kosovo’s Kurti Reinstates Police Hazard Pay (Balkan Insight)
• What of Inter-Ethnic Relations in Post-Banjska Kosovo? (Balkan Insight)
• Videos Show Kosovo Serb Politician Being Followed Before Murder (Balkan Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 30, 2023

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, October 30, 2023

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti - to QUINT ambassadors: Kosovo ready to sign basic agreement, Serbia refusing (media)
• Szunyog on Ursula von der Leyen's meetings: Waiting for fruitful discussions (Klan)
• Sources from Special Prosecution: “Almost all terrorists of Sept 24 are identified” (AP)
• Specialist Prosecutor’s Office raids houses of Thaci’s former advisors (media)
• Court sentences Bozovic to seven months in prison for incidents in the north (Koha)
• Delawie: The EU really needs to stop coddling Vucic (media)
• PDK: We do not vote international agreements without setting date for elections (Reporteri)
• Kurti expected to report to Assembly on developments in dialogue on Friday (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Vucic: I will call elections on Wednesday or Thursday (media)
• Serbia Against Violence parties will offer cooperation to right wing parties if need be (media)
• Less: It's no secret that London has more understanding for Pristina than other Western actors (Kosovo Online)
• Janjic: Brussels talks ended without an agreement, but showed a change in work methodology (Kim radio, Slobodno srpski)
• Milovan Bozovic from Zubin Potok sentenced to seven months in prison (KoSSev, media)
• Larger number of Kosovo police present in Zubin Potok, works on police station construction continue (Kosovo Online)
• "Fatherland" on construction of police station: “The brutality of Pristina while Belgrade is busy collecting voters” (KiM radio)
• Office for KiM: Tractor stolen from Djuric family in Osojane village (Kontakt plus radio, KiM radio, N1)
• Vucic receives farewell visit from Albanian ambassador (Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Vucic continues to successfully challenge the EU (Koha)

International:

• Kosovo’s Report Reveals Banjska Terrorist Attack Details (Prishtina Insight)
• After BIRN Investigation, Prishtina Court Sentenced 13 Police Officers for Smuggling Operations (Prishtina Insight)

UNMIK Media Observer, Morning Edition, October 30, 2023

Albanian Language Media:
Joint statement by Macron, Scholz and Melon on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
Lajcak: Leaders showed readiness, although couldn’t agree on modalities (media)
Von der Leyen will visit Kosovo today, to meet Osmani and Kurti (media)
Gervalla: Kosovo-Serbia agreement must be implemented in its entirety (VoA)
Haradinaj: Kosovo needs to implement the French-German plan (media)
Kearns calls on Borrell and von der Leyen to lift sanctions on Kosovo (media)
On sixth day of strike, mineworkers want Kurti to visit them (Koha)
Kosovo Police reacts to SL accusations about Zubin Potok police station (Kallxo)
Serbian Language Media:
Three European leaders call on Belgrade to deliver on de-facto recognition, on Pristina to establish CSM (N1, media)
Vucic: Deadlines about agreement with Pristina nonsense, we are ready for everything but recognition (Radio KIM, media)
EU: Failure to de-escalate tensions will have consequences (N1, BETA)
Scholz: Negotiations with Belgrade, Pristina did not end in failure (media)
Surlic: Meeting of Belgrade and Pristina leaders with EU officials – a successful failure (Tanjug)
Local residents object plan to build police station near elementary school in Zubin Potok (KoSSev, media)
Office for KiM, Serbian List react to decision to build police station near elementary school, say Pristina continues escalation (Radio KIM, media)
International Media:
A mysterious attack in northern Kosovo rattles everyone (The Economist)
Kurti, Vucic Trade Blame as Tensions in North Kosovo Worry EU (BIRN)
Kosovo-Serbia Stalemate Lets Convicted Criminals Walk Free (BIRN)
Op-ed: What of Inter-Ethnic Relations in Post-Banjska Kosovo? (BIRN)